BSc Banking and Finance (Compliance and Corporate Governance Minor)

Introduction

This professional programme is offered in partnership between the UWI Open Campus and the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Banking and Financial Services (ECIB). It is best suited for candidates presently working in the banking and financial services sector and would like to specialize in an area of interest or persons who intend to pursue careers in the sector. Currently, to take this programme candidates must be located in one of the Caribbean countries served by the UWI since the programme includes a variety of assessment strategies. The UWI Open Campus Country Site (OCCS) facilitates examinations for courses assessed through a traditional face-to-face examination.

The BSC Banking and Finance (Compliance and Corporate Governance Minor) provides learners with an introduction to the core content, knowledge and skills in the field of banking and finance and provides an academic foundation and practical training for persons across the English-speaking Caribbean region who are interested in specializing in a core area of banking and finance. The programme offers learners the opportunity to focus on core courses that are complemented by a choice of elective and special purpose courses designed to meet the needs of banking and financial service providers. The programme places emphasis on the following:

Development of practical skills and understanding of theory to better position learners to respond to the performance demands of the sector

Practice driven activities and sharing of practical experiences that are linked to the structure and operations of institutions in the banking and financial service sector

Development of requisite knowledge and attitudes, and application of skills aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of operations in the sector

The assessment structure is practice driven and will include an emphasis on case studies and problem-solving that simulate the work environment, and projects that involve research on issues encountered as part of daily activities in the sector. Practitioners in the field will facilitate the courses in this programme.

Who is this programme for?

The programme targets the following categories of persons:

Investment analysts, portfolio managers, loans officers, underwriters and other loan servicing, banking and financial institution professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge or advance their career options.Those who are interested in starting a career in the sector or who wish to obtain training for a change of career path

Programme Structure

Learners will be expected to complete a total of 90 credits, normally equivalent to 30 courses structured as follows:

A minimum of forty-five (45) credits or 10 CORE compulsory, 3 ELECTIVE courses and a six (6) credit Practicum over Levels II and III.

A maximum of fifteen (15) credits or 5 courses toward the chosen MINOR over Levels II and III.

Courses will be delivered using blended-learning modalities, including online tutorials, web conferencing and audio conferencing technologies. Learners must have access to a computer, a printer and fast-speed Internet. The online orientation is conducted before the start of the programme.

Award of the Degree

To be awarded an undergraduate degree you must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0. This means that it is possible to pass all the courses in your programme and not receive your certificate because your GPA is under 2.0.

When will the programme start?

The programme starts in August and can be completed in a minimum of three academic years

Entry Requirements

Applicants should meet normal or lower matriculation AND have an acceptable pass in CXC-CSEC (General Proficiency) Mathematics or its equivalent.

An acceptable pass in English A in an examination of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC-CSEC), or an acceptable equivalent AND one of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Holders of CXC-CSEC Certificates, General Certificates of Education (GCE) (or the approved

equivalents) who satisfy either Scheme A or Scheme B as stated below:

Scheme A: They possess FIVE (5) subjects of which at least TWO (2) must be GCE

Advanced Level (‘A’ Level)* passes, while the remainder may be acceptable passes

in the CXC-CSEC or GCE ‘O’ Level examinations.

Scheme B: They possess passes in FOUR (4) subjects of which at least THREE must

be GCE ‘A’ Level** passes, while the fourth may be an acceptable pass in the

CXC-CSEC or GCE ‘O’ Level examinations.

2. Holders of Certificates and Diplomas awarded by this University

3. Holders of an Associate Degree from the UWI, or from approved Caribbean tertiary level

institutions with a minimum GPA of 2.5

* Candidates who have passed two two-unit courses in a particular subject area fall

within the two ‘A’ Level matriculation standard (Reference Scheme A).

** Six CAPE units, including the two single-unit courses – Caribbean Studies and

This course draws upon the key disciplines in the social sciences and provides learners with a broad overview of the factors that impact social behaviours in contemporary society. This interdisciplinary course will discuss key issues including gender and the social, cultural, political and economic factors that impact behaviour. It will assist students to make the connection between these factors and to think critically about how changes in one or more of these factors over time, impact social behaviour in practice. The course also introduces learners to the objectives and practice of social research and the basic parametric statistics required for data manipulation and analysis in the social sciences.

Assessment:100% Continuous Assessment.

Credits:

3

FINA1001

Elements of Banking and Finance

Assessment: 100% Continuous Assessment

ECON1009

Introduction to International Trade and Foreign Business

SOCI1007and ECON1009 are pre-requisite courses for some of the Level 2 courses in the programme. You should aim to complete both of these courses at the Summer offer.

Assessment:100% Continuous Assessment.

ECON1008

Introduction to Financial Economics

Assessment: 100% Continuous Assessment

FOUN1101

Caribbean Civilisation

This coursed is designed to develop an awareness of the main process of cultural development in Caribbean societies, highlighting the factors, the problematic and the creative output that have fed the emergence of Caribbean identities. It seeks to develop a perception of the Caribbean as wider than island nations or linguistic blocs as well as to stimulate students’ interest in, and commitment to Caribbean civilization and to further their self-determination.

Assessment

Continuous Assessment - 100%

Credits:

3

FOUN1210

Science, Medicine and Technology in Society

FOUN1001

English for Academic Purposes

ECON1003

Mathematics for Social Sciences

ACCT1006

Introduction to Accounting

Level 1 Electives

SPAN1009

Spanish Language I

MGMT1001

Principles of Management

This course is an introduction to the study of management theories and practices. Management is discussed as a functional, problem-solving, decision-making process that is geared towards the effective and efficient accomplishment of organizational goals. Issues and cases associated with management in the Caribbean context are considered throughout the course.

ECON1005

Introductory Statistics

This course introduces students to the art and science of statistics. Topics covered are: the collection and compilation of data, descriptive statistics, probability distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing and simple regression and correlation. Teaching is accompanied by computer applications using MINITAB software.

Credits:

3

Level 2

FINA2003

Information Technology for Banking and Finance

This course is designed to provide abroad country-context, but focuses on the Caribbean environment. Its aim is to provide learners with a thorough understanding of the role of IT in the delivery of financial services and the major software packages employed in the financial services industry in addition to the associated risks and policies governing the application of technology.

Assessment: 100% Continuous Assessment.

Essential Readings–Electronic copies of essential ‘Readings’ will be provided in the course. Students are not required to purchase a text but in the event that you can get a copy please do so.

The objective of this course is to provide students with a thorough understanding of the major risks confronting financial institutions, and the techniques used to manage these risks. Specific topics to be covered include: types of risk; basic concepts and models of operational risks; credit risk analysis and valuation for financial institutions; loan portfolio management; and compliance programs and internal audits to reduce risks and exposure.

MGMT2023

Financial Management I

Level 2 Electives

FINA2009

Sales and Marketing for Banking and Finance

Assessment: 100% Continuous Assessment.

FINA2010

Trust and Wealth Management

Assessment: 100% Continuous Assessment.

GEND2111

Gender in the Caribbean Social, Political & Economic Relations

Assessment: 100% Continuous Assessment.

ACCT2017

Management Accounting

The course explains how managerial accounting information is used by managers in manufacturing, retail, service and not-for-profit organisations to anticipate the future and monitor the activities of the business.

The course aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of the economic environment in which Caribbean businesses operate. As such, theory and practice are combined to enhance students’ knowledge of theCaribbean business environment and its place in the global economy. Although theory is not rigorously developed, it is referred to whenever necessary.

This course allows students to understand the various interconnections between the methodologies used in survey design and reliability findings. Students gain hands-on-experience with the computer, as it relates to data entry of the actual survey that the student conducts in a test of understanding of phenomena and research.

Credits:

3

MGMT3031

Business Strategy and Policy

The objective of this course is to provide students with a broad knowledge and understanding of the principles, concepts and primary analytical methodologies in current use in the field of strategic management. This course requires learners to apply a range of functional skills and understanding in a range of case supported situations and to develop a recommended strategy for a chosen case. Strategic management focuses the student on the longer-term ramifications of managerial decision making from the perspective of the Chief Executive Officer. It considers the enterprise as a whole entity interacting within a dynamic social, economic, political and competitive environment. It involves long term focusing of corporate resources and processes to reflect top-level choices in corporate business definition and values established under conditions of uncertainty and imperfect information.

Credits:

3

MGMT3017

Human Resource Management

This course introduces students to the organisational models and designs that will most effectively procure, integrate, develop, protect, compensate and maintain the human resources of the organisation. Students will be exposed to a cross-section of Caribbean cases and readings and will analyse the implications of these practices for the development of the region.

With nearly 50 locations across the Caribbean, the UWI Open Campus, assists the University with providing virtual and physical access to accredited programmes, courses and other support services to students wherever they are.